Anti-friction device



(No Model.)

J. M. WEYMOUTH. ANTI FRICTION DEV-ICE.

No. 308,117. Patented Nov. 18, 1884.

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IA/YE MTO'R v 12v f ATTORNEY.

, UNITED STATES JAMES M. \VEYMOUTH, OF NEXV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

ANTI-FRICTION DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,11'7,'datedNovember 18, 1884-.

' Application filed April 22, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it mag] concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES M. WEYMOUTH, a resident of the city of NewOrleans, parish of Orleans, and State of Louisiana, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Anti-Friction Devices; and I dohereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and correct descriptionof the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, makinga partof this specification.

This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in adevice for relieving the great amount of friction incident to the movingof doors, windows, gates, gangways, sceneryin theaters, and similarpurposes; and it consists in the peculiar construction of the casingwhereby the same is rendered self-securing. 7

Another novel feature of this invention consists in forming theconnecting-links of the roller chain in one piece, the same beingstamped out of sheet metal, and having a cen tral portion which servesnot only to brace or strengthen the link, but which, coming between theset of rollers, acts as a scraper to also remove any foreign matterwhich may adhere to the rollers, and thereby prevent the same from beingcarried within the casing, and thus impair the working parts of thisdevice.

This invention further consists in the peculiar construction andarrangement of its parts, all more fully hereinafter described, andshown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a sideelevation having one side of the case removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe detached side, showing the guide and bearing-center. Fig. 3 is aplan View of the case. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line as x of Fig. 1.Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective View of one link. Fig. 6 is amodification of the bearing-center having recessed ends.

A is the box-casing for inclosing the rollerchain B, and it is made intwo parts, and as the parts are constructed exactlyalike, it is onlynecessary that a description of one be given. One of these partsconsists of the plate a, the bearing-center b, guides c (I, endextension, 6, and side extension, f, and the outwardly-projecting flange9. While I have shown all these parts cast integral with the plate a, itis obvious that each may be made separately and secured to the same inany approved manner; but I prefer the construction shown, as it ischeaper, and the loosening of joints is entirely avoided. Thebearingcenter I) may be of any approved form, but preferably of anoblong shape, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, as it affords a betterbearing-surface for the rollers. It isobvious that the construction maybe modified without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the bearing center having a straightbearing under surface, d, and an upper broken surface, fthat is tosay,-.a surface varying from a straight plane. By this construction I amenabled to prevent the sagging in the roller-chain which is so common indevices of this kind as heretofore constructed.

It will be seen by having reference to Fig.

6 that as the rollers on the upper side'of the bearing-center are ridingthe inclined portions of the depressions c c the rollers on the endswill simultaneously ride the oppositely-inclined ends of thebearing-center, and thereby strain the chain and prevent its sagging orWabbling.

In all modifications of the bearing-center I intend to provide the sameat its base with a guide, d, which, acting in conjunction with the outerguide, 0, serves to keep the parts of the roller-chain B in the sameplane, and at the same time prevents the links L of the rollerchain fromimpinging against the side of the casing. The guides c d are made toconform to the contour of the bearing-center b, and are at such adistance therefrom as to allow free passage of the links L between themand the said bearingcenter. The end extensions, 6, are provided withgrooves h, which are designed to receive the opposite end of each'plate,and thus form a self-securing case, and to guard against lateraldisplacement the pins 45 pass through the holes 0, which extendtransversel y through the casing A and bearing-centcr c b. Vhen saidpins are in position, it is imq possible to separate the same.

In order that the case A may be entirely closed, excepting in thatportion through which the roller-chain B protrudes, I provide the plateswith a side extension, f, which runs the whole length of said plates andsprings at right angles therefrom to a plane passed centrally betweenthe opposite ends of the said plates a, and also are provided with theextension a, which fills the'space between the same, and are of asufficient length so as not to interfere with the roller-chain B.

The roller-chain B is made of rollers R, links L, said links consistingof the side bars, Z, and central portionfl, stamped out of sheet metal,and the bars Z bent at right. angles to the said central portion, Z,which serves to brace or strengthen the side bars, Z, and preventingsagging thereof, and at the same time is adapted to remove anythingwhich may adhere to the rollers.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an anti-friction device, in combination with an endlessroller-chain and easing, A, guides c d, and bearing-center b,substantially as described.

2. In an anti-friction device, in combination with an endlessroller'chain, the bearing-center 1) and guides 0 cl, said guidesconforming to the contour of the bearing-center 1), substantially asdescribed.

3. In an anti-friction device, and in combination with an endlessroller-chain, a casing constructed in two parts, each part having guideso d, and a bearing-center, b, substantially as and for the purposeherein described.

4. In an anti-friction device, and in combibination with an endlessroller-chain, means,

h t o, for locking the same, substantially as described.

5. A casing constructed in two parts, each provided on its opposite endwith a side extension, e, having a groove, h, constructed to receive theopposite end of each part, substantially as and for the purposes hereindescribed.

6. In an anti-friction device, in combination with the rollers R, thelinks L, each link consisting of the side bars, Z, and central portion,Z, all constructed of one piece of metal, substantially as and forthepurposes specified.

7 In an anti-friction device, in combination with the endlessroller-chain B, casing A; made in two parts, each part consisting of thefollowing elements: bearing-center b, guides c d, end extension, 6,having a groove, h, andside extension, f, all constructed, arranged, andoperating as herein set forth.

8. In an anti-friction device, and in combination with the roller-chainand easing hereof, a bearing-center, I), having a straig t underbearing-surface, as d, and an upper broken surfaee, as f, substantiallyas and for the purpose herein set forth.

9. In an anti-friction device, and in combination with the endlessroller-chain and easing thereof, a bearing-center, as I), having the enddepressions, c a, substantially as and for the purposes as herein setforth and described.

J. M. \VEYMOU'IH.

Attest:

ALF. Sannnr, It. W. YOUNG.

